Which riding boot accessories make sense?

Riders who spend the majority of their free time in the saddle and in the stable should place a lot of value on comfort when choosing their footwear. If you pay attention to a good fit and choose your riding boots carefully, you have already laid a solid foundation. Since individual needs and physical conditions differ greatly in terms of the shape and position of the feet, there is a wide range of accessories that can be used to improve fit and comfort. In addition, we give tips on simple means to protect expensive leather riding boots and make them easier to handle in the long run.

1 – Against tedious putting on and taking off of riding boots.

Putting on and taking off riding boots can be quite tiring. Especially if there is no zip to give the foot a little more space when getting in and out of the riding boot.

The boot jack – for quick removal of the riding boot

The boot jack, on the other hand, is more common and makes taking off the boot much easier. There is no need for tedious tugging on the boot. Simply stand with one foot on the step of the boot jack, place the other foot in the notch and pull the leg up to remove the riding boot. Make sure that the notch has a rubber lip to protect the material of the riding boot.

2 – Help with fitting problems

The breaking-in phase forms the basis for a comfortable fit. Since the shape and position of each person’s foot is different, the riding boot must first adapt to the individual conditions by being worn.

Shoe inserts

If you still feel a little pressure in places despite having worn in the boots, you can usually compensate for this with shoe inserts. There are also soles with special padding (e.g. made of memory foam or with a massage surface) that improve and support the footbed. If you wear your riding boots very often, you should replace the insoles regularly – also for hygienic reasons. Make sure you get the right type of insole. There are exactly the right replacement insoles for many riding boot models.

The heel wedge 

If you have specific fit problems in the heel area, you should try a heel wedge. This is also perfect for temporarily compensating the leg height until the boot is put on. This prevents the riding boot from cutting into the back of the knee when you break in the boots.

3 – Against cold feet in winter

Anyone who spends a lot of time in the stable knows about cold feet, which can quickly develop despite the high intensity of movement when riding and working in the stable.

Heating insoles & foot warmers

There are numerous heating soles and insoles that are either suitable for one-time use or can be reused. Even the simple warming insole models that are equipped with a thermal membrane or made of thermal insulating sheepskin or synthetic fur can reliably keep the feet warm.

Tip for the winter

Safety is the top priority in equestrian sports! When it gets dark early in winter, riders and horses should make themselves easily visible to others by using reflective or luminous details. There are special lamps for riding boots that can be easily attached to the boot and can make the hack safer. For comprehensive safety, however, you should still rely on other reflective items for rider and horse and only use the boot lamp as an add-on.

4 – Material-friendly storage

Leather riding boots are actually water-repellent by nature, but the material is permanently damaged and stressed if it is repeatedly exposed to wetness and dirt.

Riding boot overshoes

If you want to protect your riding boots in the long term, you can do so with overshoes, which were also known as galoshes in the past. This means that you can bring the horse back from the field or work in the stable without getting your riding boots dirty and having to change them. The overshoes are also ideal to reliably keep the cleaned leather riding boots from getting dirty during preparations at competitions. If you use spurs, you should use a spur protector to protect the leather.

Boot bag

A boot bag is useful for storing your riding boots. This prevents the riding boots from getting dirty or dusty when they are not in use. In combination with a boot tree, the riding boots (especially leather riding boots) are not only protected from dirt but also from creases.

Boot tree

Boot trees should always be used when the leather riding boots are not being worn. They ensure that the shape of the boots is maintained. If no boot trees are used, the riding boot will always crease and strain both the material and the zip at the crease point.